kitchen



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. M. W. KITCHEN.

BXERCISING CHAIR.

No. lr229,570. Patented Nov. 3, 1885."

ffy. 1

(No Model.) 2 sheets-s118052.

J. M. W. KITCHEN.

BXBRCISING CHAIR.

Patented Nov. 3

Unirse raras JOSEPH M. V. KITCHEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SPECIFECATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 329.570, dated November3,1885. Application filed January 27, 1885. Serial No. 154,155. (omodel.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, Josnrrr lll. W. KITCHEN, of New York, in the Stateof New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improve ment inExercisingOhairs, of which the following is a specification.

My improvement relates to chairs so constructed that they may bemanipulated to impart a jolting motion to the person of the occupant ofthe chair, and is used in the treatment of disease, particularly ofthose diseases incident to the abdominal region. It is also useful as ameans of exercise.

l will describe in detail an exercisingchair embodying my improvement,and then point ont the novel features in the claims.

ln the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of anexercising-chair embodying my improvement. Fig. 2 is a side elevationthereof. Fig. 3 is a top view of a portion of the frame thereofdetached. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the saine, taken on the plane ofthe line x fr, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an inverted view of a certain otherportion of the frame thereof. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of Fig. 5.Figs. 7, 8, and 9'are details thereof, and Figs. 10 and 1l aremodifications of certain parts.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

A designates the seat of a chair, which may be of wood and of anydesired construction, and is shown as provided with a back and pair ofarms. This chair-seat is not in direct connection with the legs of thechair, but is supported a distance above them upon springs B B',extending between said seat and a frame, G, in which said legs aresecured. A pair of these springs B B/ is arranged upon each side of theframe C. As here shown, said springs are made of fiat strips of metal.Each of these springs is approximately U shaped. The ends of the springsin each pair are shown as overlapping when placed in position betweenthe seat A and the fraaie C. They are there bolted firmly, the upper ofsaid ends to a frame, D, rigidly affixed to theA under side of the seatA, and the lower of said ends to the frame C. rIhe curved or bow-shapedportions of the springs extend one toward the front and the other towardthe rear of the chair. It is not alone the 'function of these springs tosupport the chair-seat, but also to aid in elevating the same to anormal position when the saine has been depressed from any cause. Inorder to conduce to the resilience of these springs, l prefer to soconstruct them that considerable force will be required to bend theminto position for being secured between the seat A-and frame O. l haveshown in Fig. 1l one of these springs before adjustment in the chair.

It is the object of this chair to impartan up-and-down motion to thechair-seat. To accomplish this, l:employ toggles E E,arranged beneaththe seat A and between it and the frame C. The arms c of the toggles E,which are the toggles nearer the front of the chair, have theirdownwardlyextendi ng ends rigidly secured to a rock-shaft, F. As hereshown, they are made integral with said rock-shaft. These arms, neartheir upper or free ends, are bifurcated to receive one of the ends oflinks b, which are pivotally connected thereto by pins or bolts c,passing through suitable holes therein and in the links b. said linksare pivotally connected by means of bolts or pins todownwardly-extending lugs or projections d upon the under side of theframe D.

The togglcs E are arranged tothe rearward of the toggles E. The arms aof these toggles are connected to a shaft, F. The construction of thesetoggles and the mode of their attachment are in all respects similar tothe toggles E, except that the arms a of the toggles E may have a looseconnection with the shaft F', if desired. I have found that the bestresults are obtained with these toggles when the arms a areapproximately twice the length of the links b.

The toggles E E are connected together by means of links E,pivotallyconnected at either of their ends with said toggles by the pins or boltsc, the bifurcated ends of the arms a a being adapted to receive them. Bythis means motion imparted to the toggles E will be correspondinglytransmitted to the toggles E.

The shafts F and F are,as shown,arranged beneath the frame C, and are`journaled in suitable bearings, the main portions of which are formedintegral therewitli,aiid the re1nov able caps of which are secured inplace by screws or bolts in the weltknown manner. They extend crosswiseof the frame C, or in The other ends of the direction of the widththereof. The shaft F extends outwardly for a considerable distancebeyond the frame C, and has arranged near its ends sockets G,adapted toreceive the end portions, e, of levers H. I make these sockets of suchshape that they will interlock with the arms in different positions. Iprefer to make these sockets of hexagonal or kindred shape, and theportions cof the lever to correspond therewith, in order to preventrotary motion of said portions e therein. The end portions, e, arepreferably tapering, to admit of easy insertion and removal into and outof the socket G. portions of the levers H entering the sockets G saidlevers are preferably bent for a distance at approximate right angles tothe portions e, and above said bent portion extend upwardly in adirection approximately parallel with the sides of the chain. Upon theupper ends of the levers H are handles I in such position as to beconveniently grasped by a person seated in the chair. By varying thepositions of the portions e of the levers H in the sockets G the handleslI may be brought nearer to or farther away from the chain, in order toaccommodate the varying lengths of the arms of persons occupying thechair. It will be seen that as the levers are moved backward and forwardthe shaft F is rocked,oper ating the toggles E, and by means of thelinks E2 the toggles E', in such manner as to admit of the descent, andsubsequently to elevate, the chair-seat A, and consequently any personseated thereon,and a jolting motion is thereby imparted to the occupantofthe chair.

J J are arms or brackets rigidly secured, by bolts or otherwise, to theframes C and D. The bracket J is secured near the front ofthe frame G,and extends upwardly therefrom. The bracket J is secured .near the rearof the frame D, and extends downwardly therefrom."

The brackets J J are of approximately the samelength. Extending betweensaid brackets is a rod, K, shown of frame-like construction. (Moreclearly illustrated in Fig. 7 This rod is pivotally connected, or, inother words, hinged, at one end to the bracket J, near the top thereof,and at the other end to the bracket J, near the bottom thereof. The rodK exti'ds'about a convolute spring, L, a central aperture, a", beingmade therein for such purpose. The free ends of the brackets J J arepreferably flattened, and are adapted to come in contact with bumpers g,here shown as consisting of pieces of india-rubber secured in sockets,one upon the frame D, above the bracket J, and the other upon theframe-G, above the bracket J. By this arrangement the seat A is alwaysvmaintained in an approximately horizontal position', and prevented fromlateral or antero-posterior motion, while the toosudden jar incident tothe coming together of the brackets J J with the seat A and frame C isobviated, and noise prevented.

I have found it necessaryto adj ust this chair to the weights ofdifferent persons, and to vary Immediately above the.

the degree of the bumping action. For these purposes I employ the springL, and provide for varying the force with which the same acts. Thisspring I arrange vertically beneath the seat A and at about the centerthererecess is formed by a downwardly-projecting portion, i', oftheframe D, in which is a hole adapted to receive a screw, j. The screwj passes upwardly through the part i and the loop, and is screwed intothe chair-seat A. By this means the upper end of the spring is firmlysecured. As the upper portion of the spring isl adapted to bear againstthe portion t" of the frame D, saidV spring is thereby prevented fromV-having any material 'rotary motion. The lower end of the spring is bentinto hook shape, which engages with a loop, 7c, upon theupwardly-extending end of a screw-rod, 7c. A Wedge, Z, which may bedriven into the loop k, as shown more clearly in Fig. 9, secures thehook within the loop. The screw-rod k passes through an aperture in acentral portion,o9, of the frame C,-

and the screw-threaded portion receives a nut, n, below `the portion o9.This nut is in the form of a wheel. By adjusting this nut upon thescrew-rod'k the tension upon the spring L may be varied. Instead of thewheel-nut n, I may use a crank-nut having a screw-threaded hole adaptedto receive the rod k. I have shown such au arrangement of parts in Fig.10. The nut and core on the crank are made long, so as to avoid allnecessity for protrusion of the rod lc. Vhen a person of heavy weight isoccupying the chair, the tension upon the spring L is relaxed byadjusting the nut n; but when a person of lighter weight occupies thechair the tension of the spring is increased. The spring then exerts adownward pull upon the chairseat, which compensates for the decreasedweight. By this simple device the chair is made equally .operative forpersons of all weights. I prefer to construct it to accommodate personsweighing from seventy-live pounds up. The nut n may also be adjusted tovary the violence of the bumping action.

The construction of the frames C and D is an important feature of myimprovement. Each of these I prefer to cast in one piece. These areclearly indicated in Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6.

The arrow shown in Figs. 3 and 5 points to the direction of the front ofthe chair when the frames C and D are in position. The frame C is shapedapproximately like the seat of an ordinary chair. It has an outerrimlike portion, o, having approximately parallel top and bottom edges.Extending inwardly from the four corners of the frame are portions o',having in them apertures forming sockets IOO IIO

adapted to receive the upper ends of the four legs of the chair. Uponthe sides of the frame transversely to the length of the arrow areinwardly-extendiug rims or flanges 02. The flanges o2 have in themdepressed portions 03, in which are holes adapted to receive bolts, bywhich certain caps, 04, are secured to the frame C, in order to formjournal-bearings for the shafts F F. Certain portions, 05, of theflanges o2 are flush with the top edge of the rim-like portion o', andhave in them holes adapted to receive bolts, by which the springs B Bare secured to said frame. Upon the rear of the frame is cast a recess,o6, adapted to receive one of the bumpers g. Opposite the recess o6 theframe has upon it a portion, 07, extending inwardly from the frontthereof. To this portion the bracket J is bolted through appropriatebolt-holes. Bracepieces o8 extend inwardly from the four sides of theframe. Near their inner ends the bracepieces o8 dip downwardly, but meetin an approximately horizontal plane. At their meeting ends they areextended somewhat laterally, forming a central portion, o. Through thecentral portion, o, extends downwardly an aperture, through which passesthe screwrod k. The depressed portions of the bracepieces o8 form arecess for the lower end of the spring L The frame D has brace-piecespextending inwardly toward the center, where they meet and form a recessfor the upper end of the spring L, as previously described. It has uponthe front side a recess, p', for one of the bumpers g, and upon each ofthe sides transverse to the length ofthe arrow a recess, p2, adapted toreceive the bolt-heads by which the springs B B are secured to theframe. Lugs d extend downwardly from'the same, to which the links b aresecured, and the frame is provided with suitable screw-holes, by whichthe same may be secured to the chair-seat.

My mode of constructing these frames and their attachment to the chairgive rigidity to a structure which is subjected to more strain than isusual in chairs.

My exercising-chair is simple and effectual, and will be foundinvaluable in the treatment of certain kinds of diseases.

I have led an application for Letters Patent on an exercising-chair June19, 1884, No. 135,404. A feature of that application consists in achair-seat, a pedestal below the seat, and mechanism for producing averticallyvibratory motion in the seat, and a spring or springssupported by the pedestal, and which equalizes the motion of the seat.Another feature of said application consists in two shafts,uprightstandards secured to said shafts, rollers upon the said standardsadapted to be moved to and fro within slotted bars, bars connecting saidstandards, and handles for rocking the shafts, whereby when thestandards are oscillated through the rocking of the shafts anup-and-down 'motion will be given to the chair-seat. Another feature ofsaid improvement consists in sockets in the outer ends of one of saidrocking shafts and handles provided with bends or offsets, and adaptedto be secured in different positions in said sockets. Still anotherfeature of that application consists in a bar or strap extending betweenthe chair-seat and thef'pedestal, and having its ends pivotallyconnected to the seat and pedestal for limiting the backward and forwardoscillation of the seat. In my present application I do not lay claim toany of these features when broadly considered.

Vhat I claim as myinvention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

I. In an excercising-ehair, the combination, with a vertically-movableseat, ofsprings upon which said seat is supported, a frame below thesprings and supporting the same, toggles consisting of armsaaandlinksb,forimparting a vertical motion to the chair-seat,and leversfor operating the toggles, substantially as speci'ed.

2. In an exercising-chair, the combination, with a vertically-movableseat, of pairs of springs B B, supporting the seat, a frame bel ow thesprings supporting the same, toggles for imparting a vertical movementto the seat, and levers for operating the toggles, substantially asspecified.

3. In an exercising-chair, the combination, with a vertically-movableseat, of springs upon which said seat is supported, a frame below thesprings supporting the same. a frame affixed to the under side of theseat to which said springs are secured, toggles secured at one end toshafts supported in bearings in the frame upon which the springs aremounted, and pivotally connected at the other end to lugs or projectionsupon the frame, secured to the under side of the seat, links connectingsaid toggles, and levers for operating the toggles, substantially asspecified.

4. In an exercising-chair, the combination, with a vertically-movableseat, ofsprings upon which said seat is supported, a frame supportingthe springs, the toggles E E', having the arms a a and the links b, thearms a a being approximately twice the length of the links b, and thelevers II, substantially as specified.

5. In an exercising-chair, the combination, with a vertically-movableseat, of springs for supporting the seat, aframe below the springs andsupporting the same, toggles arranged between the seat and the frame,levers for op erating the toggles, and bumpers arranged between the seatand the frame, substantially as specified.

6. In an exercising-chair, the combination, with the chair-seat A, ofthe frame C, the springs B B', toggles, the brackets J J', the rod K, offrame-like construction, and the le vers H, substantially as specified,

7. In an exercising-chair, the combination, with the chair-seat A, ofthe frame (l, the springs B B', toggles, the brackets J J, the bumpersg, and the levers H, substantially as specified.

8. In an exercising-chair, the combination,

IOO

with a vertically-movable seat, of springs for supporting the seat, aframe below the springs and supporting the same, toggles arrangedbetween the seat and the frame, levers for operating the toggles, and anadjustable spring arranged between the seat and the frame, substantiallyas described, whereby the pressure of the seat upon the first-mentionedsprings may be varied.

9. In an exercisingchair,v the combination, with the seat A, of theframe G, the springs B B', the spring L, rod k', and the nut n,substantially as specified. v

10. In an exercising chair, the combination, With a seat, A, of a frame,C, a frame, D, the springs B B, the brackets J J', the rod K, offrame-like construction, having the aperture a, and the spring L,substantially as specified'.

11. In an exercisingchair, the combination 2o 12. In anexercising-chair, the combination,

with the seat A, of the springs B B and the 3o frame C, having socketsfor the legs of the chair cast therein, substantially as specied.

.J. M. W. KITCHEN.

Witnesses:` y

T. J. KEANE, W. G. LIPsEY.

